Hollywood heavyweight Kiefer Sutherland makes a surprising career pivot this festive season, trading counter-terrorism for pantomime in Sky Cinema's heartwarming new Christmas comedy Tinsel Town. The 24 star appears alongside Rebel Wilson in a film that celebrates British theatre tradition while delivering plenty of laughs.
From Jack Bauer to Buttons
For Yorkshire residents earlier this year, sightings of Sutherland in market towns like Knaresborough and Wetherby provided unexpected local excitement. The Canadian actor was in the region filming Tinsel Town, playing washed-up Hollywood action star Bradley Mack, who mistakenly believes he's heading for London's West End only to find himself performing in a small-town production of Cinderella.
Sutherland embraced his meta-role with enthusiasm, filming scenes dressed as Buttons with glittery eyeshadow while dancing to Katy Perry's Roar. During a break in Paris, he reflected on his Yorkshire experience: "I ended up loving it; Leeds is a fantastic city".
Yorkshire Delicacies and Epic Brawls
The film's cast fully immersed themselves in northern life, with Sutherland continuing his well-documented love affair with Greggs sausage rolls. He even arranged for the bakery's van to visit the set. Rebel Wilson joined him in appreciating local treats, confessing: "I can't go past a Greggs sausage roll but I also like their doughnuts any time of the day".
Wilson plays choreographer Jill, attempting a Yorkshire accent she admits was challenging. "The Yorkshire accent is hard", she said, though she perfected her classic line: "Hiya luv!"
One of the film's standout scenes features what Sutherland describes as "the worst fighters on the planet" - a pathetic scrap between his character and Danny Dyer's hard-man ex. "It ended up being one of my favourite fight sequences ever in my career", Sutherland revealed.
Celebrating Pantomime Tradition
Directed by Chris Foggin (Bank of Dave), Tinsel Town serves as both a feelgood comedy and a celebration of pantomime's importance to British culture and theatre economics. The ensemble cast includes stage legends Derek Jacobi and Meera Syal, who remembers pantomime as her first theatrical experience.
"I'll never forget the feeling of the lights going down, the music starting, the actors coming on", Syal recalled from her trailer during filming. She emphasised how pantomime revenue keeps regional theatres financially viable throughout the year.
Maria Friedman, who plays a decidedly unconventional fairy godmother ("She loves a drink, she loves a joint, she's permanently on heat"), expressed concern about the current state of arts funding, highlighting how crucial pantomime is to theatre survival.
Despite his new panto expertise, Sutherland missed his chance to see a real British pantomime during filming, arriving just after the seasonal shows had closed. "I was so bummed", he admitted, though he plans to rectify this during future UK visits.
Tinsel Town premieres on Sky Cinema from December 5, offering British audiences a festive comedy that blends Hollywood star power with authentic northern charm and a genuine appreciation for pantomime tradition.
